Parachute flare



July i8, H939. s. P. HUFF mmm YARACHU'T'E FLARE Filed Feb. 25, 1938 Il El Inventur aj .Iliff Y, lli Sargent 1:'- Huff /a I of a l EM/www! Patented July :18, 1939 PARACHUTE 2: Sargent P. Hui, Chevy Chase, Md. Application February 25, 1938, Serial No. 192,625

4 Claims. (Cl. 1oz-24) (Granted under the act oi` March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

'I'his invention relates to a parachute flare.

Parachute ares having a high candle power are dropped from aircraft for the purpose of illuminating the terrain to discover, for example, an emergency landing eld or hostile troop movements and positions. 'I'hev light rays from the burning nare interfere with observation from the aircraft and also disclose the position of the aircraft and expose it to hostile re.

'Ihe purpose of this invention is to provide a l wherein:

Fig. 2 is a View in side elevation with parts in section and showing the shade in folded position. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3--3 of Fig. `2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional `view on the line d-i of 'Fig'. 3.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference there is shown the light case 5 of a are which is adapted to be suspended by a cord 6 from a parachute, not shown. The light case contains a composition 'l which burns with great brilliance to illuminate a considerable area. The composition 'l is ignited by means of a charge d of black powder which is placed in the lower end of the case andwhich is ignited in the usual manner from a quickmatch d during the descent of the are.

A cover i8 for closing the lower end of the case is' fixed toa ring il which has a channel i2 tting the end of the case 5. The cover and ring are adapted to be removed by the black powder charge 8 which when ignited serves as an expelling charge. f

A shade for intercepting the upwardly directed light rays during the descent of the are is of an umbrella type and comprises a flexible iii-eproofed fabric i3 carried by a plurality-of metal ribs i4 and secured thereto by fasteners I5. A band I5, secured to the case by'screws il which enter a block 5a, is` formed with a plurality of spaced and laterally projecting U-shaped extensions i8 each of which carries a transversely mounted bolt i9 for pivotally supporting one of the ribs id. A spring 2!! coiled on the bolt is anchored to the extension and to the rib and w normally tends to swing the rib outwardly to an extended position where it is brought to rest by engagement-with the extension.

The ribs are normally held in folded position parallel to the wall of the case by means yof the 3g ring il. An inexpensive and convenient arrangement for effecting engagement between the ring and ribs consists in the provision of a flange 2i on the ring which is provided with holes 22 for receiving the end of the ribs.

20 When the flare is launched, the shade is in the folded position shown in Fig. 2. When the are is ignited during its descent. the combustion of the black powder charge expels the cover i0 i and ring ii. The ribs being released by removal 25 of the ring are immediately moved to the extended position by the springs 2u, this movement being limited by engagement of each rib with the corresponding extension.

I claim:

1. In a flare launchable from aircraft, a case, an illuminating composition in the case, a ring fitting on the lower end of the case, a cover xed -to the ring and normally closing the lower end of the case, a powder` charge interposed between 35 .the cover and illuminating composition and adapted upon ignition to ignite the illuminating composition and blow the cover and ring from the case, a foldable shade pivotally mounted on the outside of the case and held in folded position by engagement with the ring, and means for moving the shade to extended position when disengaged from the ring.

2. In a are launchable from aircraft, a case v adapted to house a are, a channeled ring engaging the lower end of the case between the walls forming said channel, and having an external ange with retaining openings, a cover normally closing the lower end of the case xed to the ring, common means, operable 'to simultaneously ignite said are and remove the cover and ring from said case, a band xed to the case having laterally projecting U-shaped extensions, a pin carried by each extension, a rib pivotally mounted on each pin and having one end normally inl serted in a retaining opening in the flange of the ring, a spring for each rib adapted to move said rib when disengaged from the flange of the ring to an extendedl position .imited by engage- 1ment with its cooperating extension of the band,

and a flexible shade carried by the ribs.

3. In a ilare launchable from aircraft, a case, a closure on one end of the case, common means operable during descent'l of the are for removing the closure and igniting the flare, a band fixed to the case having laterally projecting U-shaped extensions. a pin carried by each extension, a rib .pivotally mounted on each pin intermediate the arms of its cooperating extension and having one end normally engaged and held by the closure when in place on the case, a spring encircling each pin and having projections anchored between its cooperating rib and extension tensioned to move said rib when disengaged from the closure to an extended position limited by engagement with the extension of the band, and a. exible shade carried by the ribs.

4. In a flare launchable from aircraft, a cylindrical case, an illuminating composition in the the inwardly extending ange in sealed relation with the inner wall forming said channel ring member and an ignition charge interposed between the illuminating composition and inwardly extending flange adapted upon ignition to simultaneously blow off the cover and ring and ignite the illuminating composition, whereby the refiector may distend to operative position.

Y SARGENT P. HUFF. 

